ii - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Dec

US Cellular Updates Galaxy Note II To R950VXALL1, Adds Multi-Window [Full Changelog]

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Galaxy Note II, News, Samsung, US Cellular

US Cellular is issuing an update to their variant of Samsung's Galaxy Note II, bringing the baseband version up to R950VXALL1. The headline feature with this update, as may be expected, is multi-window support. That's not all the R950VXALL1 package brings, though.

The update, besides evidently bringing the device up to Android "4.1.4" Jelly Bean (did you mean to say "4.1.2" there, USC?), brings an armload of bug fixes, from a "Burst Mode" camera fix to occasional toggling between 3G and 1X, to minor UI changes including the replacement of the notification shade's "sync" button with a multi-window shortcut and a makeover for the phone's Sound icon, switching from gray to green.

Aug

Galaxy SII 4G Coming To Boost Mobile's Lineup Promising "High-End Speed And Performance Without A Contract"

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Boost Mobile, Galaxy S II, News

In a press release on behalf of Boost Mobile and Samsung Mobile today, it was announced that Boost's lineup is soon to be enhanced by the addition of the Galaxy SII 4G. The SII 4G, which initially debuted back in 2011, is just what you'd expect from a Galaxy SII variant: a 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus display, dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, 8MP camera (with a 2MP front-shooter), and 16GB internal storage. Unlike its older counterpart, however, Boost's SII 4G will be shipping with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

While a bit dated, the SII 4G is still a powerful device, and its addition to Boost Mobile's lineup will be great for Boost customers who want a capable device "without the stress of a contract." From the PR:

“Together with Samsung we continue to launch compelling device options from entry level to 4G-enabled smartphones to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said Andre Smith, vice president-Boost Mobile.

Aug

Sprint's Samsung Epic 4G Touch Receives Minor OTA Update To Build FH13

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Epic 4G Touch, News, Sprint

The phone with the name everyone loves to hate – Sprint's Samsung Galaxy SII Epic 4G Touch – began receiving a minor (and I mean minor) software update over the air today.

The OTA, which carries software build D710.10S.FH13 (for reference compare to the E4GT's Ice Cream Sandwich build D710.10.S.FF18), brings just one thing to the table: battery life enhancement.

Just how enhanced users should expect their battery life to be is unclear as yet, but being able to squeeze just a bit more life out of your handset is never a bad thing.

If an update prompt hasn't already hit your device, you can always check for the OTA manually by paying a quick visit to your phone's Settings menu and hitting About Phone followed by Software Update.

Aug

Documents Reveal That Apple Asked Samsung For Up To $30 Per Phone And $40 Per Tablet For Patent Licenses

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Legal, News, Samsung

As most of our readers are surely aware, the Apple vs Samsung case is still boiling, and over the course of nearly two weeks since the trial's beginning, document after document has revealed juicy details from both sides regarding previously unreleased designs, plans, and even sales figures. While so far we've avoided piecemeal coverage of the case's twists and turns, a new development (reported earlier this evening by The Verge) reveals something particularly interesting.

We've known for some time that Apple attempted to sell Samsung on patent licensing back in 2010, but according to a document released today (and the testimony of Apple Exec Boris Teksler), Apple had proposed specific dollar figures per license – up to $30 per Phone and $40 per tablet, to which (according to Apple's slide deck) "Samsung should respond favorably." According to the proposal, Samsung would be responsible for a base rate of $30 per touchscreen phone (including phones running Android, Windows, Symbian, and Bada) and $40 per tablet (which would decrease to just $30 over two years).

Mar

Ice Cream Sandwich Leaks For AT&T's GSII Skyrocket, Here's The Download

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Leaks, News

It looks like users of Samsung's Galaxy SII Skyrocket are getting a chance at some Ice Cream Sandwich goodness a little sooner than anticipated – earlier this evening, RootzWiki posted a leaked build of ICS for the Skyrocket, dated March 14th. From the build.prop, it would seem that this may be the official release build, but of course there's no way of being positive.

ro.build.description=SGH-I727-user 4.0.3 IML74K 107 release-keys
ro.build.fingerprint=samsung/SGH-I727/SGH-I727:4.0.3/IML74K/107:user/release-keys
ro.build.characteristics=default

Those with Windows and a copy of Odin can download and flash away. RootzWiki assures Mac and Linux users, however, that a solution is on the way. If you're tired of reading and want to get ICS on your Skyrocket already, just hit the download link below.

Sep

Samsung Galaxy S II Sales Hit 10 Million, Excluding The U.S.

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Galaxy S II, News, Samsung

We already know the Samsung Galaxy S II (SGSII) is a huge success (even compared to the original SGS), but now sales of the uberphone have been kicked up even higher. In the last 8 weeks, sales have gone from 5 million to 10 million - or 625,000 units sold per week. And here's the real kicker: the press release expressly states "Model: GT-I9100," meaning these sales figures don't even include the United States.

Between the Sprint SGSII (the Epic 4G Touch), which just hit shelves, and the U.S. T-Mobile and AT&T variants going on sale soon, that number should ratchet up even further.

Sep

[Review] Samsung Epic 4G Touch: Big Power, Big Performance, Bigger Package

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Epic 4G Touch, Reviews, Samsung, Sprint

Here we are: the launch of the first Samsung Galaxy S II to hit a U.S. carrier, dubbed the Epic 4G Touch (E4GT) and landing on Sprint today. It certainly took long enough for the SGSII to hit U.S. shores - it was announced by Samsung in February during MWC, and launched as early as May in some markets. It was a huge success even before launch, with Samsung receiving millions of pre-orders, and for good reason - the SGSII was incredibly well rated, with reviewers universally praising it as one of (usually the) best Android device available. Consequently, for months after its international lanch, it was highly anticipated in the U.S.

Sep

Initial Impressions And Hands-On With The Samsung Epic 4G Touch For Sprint

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Epic 4G Touch, Galaxy S II, News, Samsung, Sprint

Last Updated: September 16th, 2011

The Samsung Galaxy S II (SGSII) has been one of the most highly anticipated devices in recent memory - perhaps second only to the annual new iPhone. There are two very good reasons for this: first, the original Galaxy S devices were hailed as some of the best on the market. Second - and more importantly - from its start as an on-paper proof, to its run on the trade show circuit, through its international release, the Galaxy S II been hailed as one of (if not the) best phone on the market.

Unfortunately for those of us in the States, we've had to wait quite a bit longer than our European counterparts to get our mitts on the hottest piece of Android kit ever to hit the market.

Jul

[Moar Bacon] First CyanogenMod Nightly Drops For Samsung Galaxy S II

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Android OS, Development, Galaxy S II

Just over a month ago, Samsung sent out free Galaxy S II's to a few of the developers behind CyangonMod with instructions to get CM working on the uberphone as soon as possible. The first real sign of progress came a few days ago when they released a video showing CM7 running on an SGSII along with a message that nightlies would be following soon. Well, we're happy to report the first official build is now available to download and install.

First off, you have to be rooted. If you're not already rooted, check out this XDA thread and follow the instructions.

Jul

Sprint-Branded Samsung Galaxy S II (Within) Poses For Mr. Blurrycam

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in News, Sprint

The all-around awesome Galaxy S II has made debut all over the world to the tune of major success, but nary a peep (aside from the occasional rumor) has been heard about any versions of the phone bound for the US. Today, however, we have a new detail in the form of two blurry shots of the Sprint variant (dubbed the Within), and... well, let's just say anyone who's seen pictures of the GSII before knows what to expect, because not a lot is different here. Of what is shown, the most notable difference (aside from the Sprint branding) seems to be the shape of the camera.